Marine vehicle steering assembly

ABSTRACT

A drive and steering assembly by means of which a marine vehicle on which it is installed may be maneuvered to turn with a minimum loss of speed and with little or no tendency for the bow thereof to nose into the water, as occurs when previously available power units are used for propelling a high speed boat.

United States Patent Jacobson Apr. 25, 1972 l l [54] MARINE-VEHICLESTEERING 3,250,475 5/1966 Smith 14/151 x ASSEMBLY 1 3,266,733 8/1966Goehler.. ...1l5/12 X 3,336,752 8/1967 Smith ...1 15/12 X [72] Inventor:Clayton J Jacobson, 5403 Seacrest Drive, 3,426,724 2/1969 Jacobson ml15,12 x M11118 Callf- 90274 3,467,705 9/1969 Castoldi ..115/12 [22]Filed: Nov. 18, 1969 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler [21 1 App! 877785Assistant Examiner-Carl A. Rutledge 1 Attorney-William C. Babcock [52]11.8. C1 ..115/12, 115/35 51 1111.01. ...B63h 5/14, B'63h 25/46 ABSTRACT[58] Field of Search ..115/35, filial/21310111581; A driveyand steeringassembly by means of which a marine vehicle on which it is installed maybe maneuveredto turn with a minimum loss of speed and with little or notendency [56] References Cited for the bow'thereof to nose into thewater, as occurs when UNITED STATES PATENTS previously available powerunits are used for propelling a high 7 s eed boat. 3,089,454 5/1963Chronie ..1 ..115/12 P 3,136,283 6/1964 McCormack ..115/35 2 Claims, 12Drawing Figures PATENTEB APR 2 5 m2 6 2 FIG.I5 -1 z; J n II I N VEN TOR.Lmrmv J. J caaaozv BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionA marine vehicle drive and steering assembly particularly adapted foruse on lightweight, high speed boats, which minimizes the loss offorward propulsive effect encountered by a fast moving boat during atight turn, as well as stabilizing the bow of the boat against nosinginto the water.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past few years, water jetassemblies, outboard motors and inboard-outboard motor assemblies ofever-increasing power have been used to propel lightweight racing boats,and the like, that are frequently maneuvered through tight turns of 180.Guidance of a boat through such a turn has been accomplished by pivotingeither the nozzle or the jet assembly, or the propeller when an outboardmotor or inboard-outboard motor assembly is used, into an angularposition relative to the transom of the boat. When the nozzle orpropeller is so angularly disposed, a laterally directed force isexerted on the hull of the boat, causing it to tilt relative to thelongitudinal axis thereof. Tilting of the boat in this manner sodisposes the nozzle or propeller as to exert an upward force on thestern of the boat, whereby the bow of the boat will normally nose intothe water, often with disastrous results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purpose of the present invention is toprovide a marine vehicle drive and steering assembly that avoids theoperational disadvantages of prior art devices of the characterdescribed, and one in which there is a minimum loss of a forwardlydirected propulsive force of the boat as it is maneuvered through atight turn, as well as to provide increased stability to the boat as itmaneuvers through a turn.

A marine vehicle drive and steering assembly in which the drive portionthereof is so movable relative to the boat in which it is installed thatthe assembly may be used not only for steering the same and providingthe necessary forward propulsive force, but with these functions beingcarried out with a minimum loss of efficiency as the boat is maneuveredthrough a sharp hairpin turn, and with a minimum tendency for the bowthereofto nose into the water in so turning.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a marine vehicledrive and steering assembly by means of which either a jet of water or apropeller is used in powering and steering a boat, with the jet orpropeller being so moved relative to the boat that it may be guidedthrough a tight turn of l80 with a minimum loss of forward propulsivepower, and a minimum tendency for the bow of the boat to nose into thewater.

Another object of the invention is to supply a steering assembly for aboat that imparts steering characteristics thereto inasmuch as therudder remains in a substantially vertical position when the boat isdriven through a tight turn.

A still further object of the invention is to furnish a marine vehicledrive and steering assembly which permits braking of the vehicle and thereversal of movement thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinalcross-sectional view ofa first form of marine vehicle drive and steeringassembly;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the first form of the device;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a second form ofamarine vehicle drive and steering assembly;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the stern portion of the boat onwhich the first form ofthe device is mounted, and with the nozzle of theassembly being so disposed that the boat is driven forwardly in astraight path, without tilting to either side;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view view of the boat shown in FIG. 4 withthe nozzle angularly disposed relative to the transom to cause the boatto turn and tilt, but with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle remainingsubstantially horizontal to.

permit discharge of the jet of water from the nozzle to exert a maximumforward propulsive force on the boat, without the jet exerting anyappreciable upward force on the stern of the boat;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the stern of a boat in which athird form of drive and steering assembly is embodied in an outboardmotor;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the boat shown in FIG. 6

illustrating that the longitudinal axis of the propeller remainssubstantially horizontally disposed when the boat is tilted in making aturn;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a fourth form of the vehicle driveand steering assembly embodied in an inboard-outboard motor;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the stern portion of the boat shownin FIG. 8 illustrating that the longitudinal axis of the propellerremains substantially horizontal when the boat is tilted as occurs whenit is guided through a sharp turn;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a boat driven by a propeller andon which a rudder is mounted on the stern of the boat, which rudderremains in a substantially vertical position when the boat is guidedthrough a tight turn, and which constitutes a fifth form of .theinvention;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the stern of the boat shown inFIG. 10 illustrating that the longitudinal axis of the rudder remainshorizontal when the boat is in a tilted position, as occurs when a sharpturn is made; and

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a sixth form of theinvention wherein the nozzle is provided with a baffle and reversingdischarge outlet formed as a part thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate afirst form A of a marine vehicle drive and steering assembly of thepresent invention for mounting on the stern of a boat B. Form A includesa tubular suction member 10 having a power-driven shaft 12 extendinglongitudinally therein. A propeller 14 is mounted on shaft 12 and issituated within tubular member 10. The rear end of the shaft 12 isjournaled in a bearing 16 that is supported in a fixed position in thetubular member 10 by a spider 18. The rear end of suction member 10develops into a truncated spherical socket 20 in which two diametricallyaligned openings are formed. The openings 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,lie on a common upwardly and rearwardly inclined axis 26. Openings 22serve to rotatably support two pins 24 which are in longitudinalalignment along first axis 26.

A nozzle 28 is provided, which on the forward portion thereof anexternal surface 30 is defined in the form of a segment of a ball. Thesurface 30 slidably and rotatably engages the interior surface of socket20. Pins: 24 are secured to the forward portion of nozzle 28 by means(not shown). The upwardly disposed pin 24 (FIG. 1) has a threaded shank32 which engages a lever 34, as illustrated in FIG. 4. A nut 36 isthreaded to shank 32, and holds lever 34 in a non-rotatable positionrelative to the shank.

The first form A of the invention is mounted in the sterm of the marinevehicle B, which in FIGS. 4 and 5, is illustrated as a boat having abottom defined by two downwardly and inwardly disposed, longitudinallyextending sections 38 and 40. The outer extremities of sections 38 and40 develop into upwardly extending sides 42 of the boat. The outer endof the lever 34 is pivotally engaged by an upwardly and forwardlyextending rod 44 that lies in the same plane as that of the lever. Whenthe rod 44 is moved longitudinally relative to the boat B it causespivotal movement of the lever 34 and upper pin 24. Such pivotal movementof the upper pin 24 permits pivotal movement of the nozzle 28 relativeto the socket 20, as shown in FIG. 5.

The first axis 26 (FIG. 1) is at an acute angle C relative to a secondaxis 46 which extend longitudinally through the drive shaft 12. When therod 44 is moved to dispose the nozzle 28 as shown in FIG. 5, waterdischarging from the nozzle due to rotation of propeller l4 exerts aforce forwardly and to the right on the vehicle B. Due to this force theboat B assumes the tilted position shown in FIG. 5, due primarily to theaction of the body ofwater D on section 40.

The angle C is preferably so selected that when water (not shown) isdriven rearwardly from the nozzle 28, whereby vehicle B maneuversthrough the tightest curve to which it may normally be subjected, withthe second axis 46 being horizontally disposed. Such horizontalpositioning of axis 46 results in the discharge ofa jet of water (notshown) from nozzle 28 in a horizontal path to exert a minimum forwardpropulsive force on the vehicle B. This maximum horizontal propulsiveforce of the rearwardly discharging jet of water has no verticalcomponent that .tends to force the stern of the boat B upwardly andcause the bow (not shown) of the boat to nose into the water.

A second form E of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, which differsfrom the first form A thereof for the rear portion of the tubular memberhas at least one circumferentially extending protuberance 48 thatdefines a segment of a surface of a ball. The protuberance 48 isslidably and rotatably engaged by a socket 50 formed on the forwardportion of a nozzle 28, All elements of the second form E common to thefirst form of the invention are designated in the drawing by the samenumerals, but to which primes have been added. In both the first andsecond forms of the invention the interiors of the tubular members 10and 10 and nozzles 28 and 28 cooperate to provide a continuous boundarysurface through which the water may flow to define ajet with a minimumof resistance.

A third form F of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, which isembodied in the structure of a conventional outboard motor 52. Theoutboard motor 52 includes an engine 54 provided with a structure 56depending therefrom that rotatably supports a propeller 58. A bracket 60is secured to the transom 62 of the boat B. The bracket 60 and structure56 are provided with angularly disposed, inter-engaging aperturedportions 64 through which an elongate pin 66 extends to pivotallysupport the outboard motor 52 from bracket 60.

The longitudinal axis 68 of pin 66 defines an angle C at itsintersection with a horizontal axis 70 extending longitudinally relativeto boat or marine vehicle B. Due to the angular pivotal connectionbetween bracket 60 and outboard motor 52, the longitudinal axis 72 ofpropeller 58 remains substantially in a horizontal plane when the boat Bis tilted in making a sharp turn, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Themaintenance of the longitudinal axis 72 in a substantially horizontalplane as the boat B turns, provides the same operational advantages asachieved when the axis 46 in the first form A ofthe invention is somaintained. I

A fourth form G of the invention is illustrated as embodied in aconventional inboard-outboard motor 73 that is mounted on the boat B. Abracket 74 is secured to the external portion of transom 62. A structure74 that supports a propeller 78 is provided. A downwardly and forwardlyangled pin 80 pivotally supports structure 76 from bracket 76, as shownin FIG. 8.

An axis 82 that extends longitudinally through pin 80 intersects ahorizontal longitudinal axis 84 of boat B to define said angle C. Themotor for driving the propeller 78 is within the marine vehicle B and isnot shown. Due to the angular pivotal positioning of the structure 76relative to bracket 74, the longitudinal axis 86 of propeller 78 issubstantially horizontal when the marine vehicle B tilts in making asharp turn, in the manner shown in FIG. 9.

Maintaining the longitudinal axis 86 of propeller 78 in a horizontalplane provides the same operational advantages as described inconnection with the third form F ofthe invention. A lever 88 is rigidlysecured to the upper portion of pin 80. A rod 90 is pivotally connectedto lever 88, and when the rod is moved, the propeller-supportingstructure 76 is pivoted to guide the boat B in a desired direction.

A fifth form H of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in which thetransom 62 of the marine vehicle B is provided with a protuberance 96projecting rearwardly therefrom that rotatably supports a downwardly andforwardly positioned shaft 98, which may be pivoted by a lever 100. Thelongitudinal axis 104 ofthe boat B is driven by a propeller 94 securedto a drive shaft92. Shaft 98, together with a longitudinal axis 104 ofboat B defines said angle C.

The lower end of shaft 92 supports a rudder 106. Rudder 106 is not onlyvertically disposed when in longitudinalalignment with boat B, but isalso substantially vertically disposed when boat B is tilted laterallywhile making a turn such as illustrated in FIG. 11. Maintenance ofrudder 106 in a substantially vertical plane as a boat B travels througha turn imparts improved steering characteristics to the boat. ln FIGS.10 and 11 it will be seen that the longitudinal axis of the rudder I06remains substantially horizontal, irrespective of the lateral tilting ofthe boat B.

A sixth form G of the invention is shown in FIG. I2, and includes atubular member 110 through which water is discharged rearwardly by means(not shown). Member 110 may be secured to the transom 62 of boat B byscrews (not shown) which extend through openings (not shown) formed in aflange 112 that projects outwardly from the forward portion of themember. A second tubular member 114 is disposed rearwardly of member110. The transverse cross section of tubular member 114 is larger thanthat of member 110. Member 110 and second member 114 are provided withupwardly and forwardly tilted circular races 110a and 114a,respectively, as may best be seen in FIG. 12, and which are engaged byballs 117. When second tubular member 114 is pivoted relative to member110, the rear.extremity of the second member 114 swings through an arc.

Two laterally spaced water discharge members 118 project forwardly froma second member 114, and are in communication with the interior thereof.

A baffle 120 is pivotally supported from the rear portion of the secondtubular member 114. When baffle 120 is pivoted over the rear outlet ofsecond tubular member 114, water is forced forwardly through dischargemembers 118 to brake the forward speed of the vehicle 13 on which thesixth form .I is mounted, or cause reverse movement of the vehicle.

Water does not leak from the second member 114, for due to the increasedtransverse cross section of second member 114, the water is under lesspressure when flowing rearwardly therethrough than when the water istraveling rearwardly through member 110.

I claim:

I. In a marine vehicle having a bow and stern and a rearwardly extendingtubular member through which a power driven propeller discharges ajet ofwater that is used to propel and steer said vehicle, said tubular memberhaving a rearward portion that defines a segment of a first sphericalsurface, the improvement for maintaining said jet in a substantiallyhorizontal direction when said vehicle is traveling forwardly as well aswhen negotiating a turn to prevent said jet raising said stern of saidvehicle to cause said how thereof to nose into the water, saidimprovement comprising:

a. a tubular nozzle that includes a forward portion that defines asegment of a second spherical surface that slidably engages said firstspherical surface, with the interior of said tubular member and nozzlecooperating to define a continuous boundary surface through which saidjet discharges rearwardly with a minimum of resistance;

b. two spaced first and second pins rigidly secured to said forwardportion and journalled in said rearward portion of said tubular member,said pins coaxially aligned on a first axis that intersects a secondaxis that extends longitudinally through said tubular member when saidtubular member and tubular nozzle are longitudinally aligned as occurswhen said vehicle is being driven forwardly in a straight line by saidjet, said first and second axis sustaining an upwardly and rearwardlyextending acute angle therebetween that is so selected that as saidnozzle is c. means for pivoting one of said pins and said nozzle pivotedto turn saidvehicle as the latter is driven forsecured thereto to i esaid boat b said rearwardly wardly by said jet and said first axis istilted relative to the discharging jet f waten vertlcalas a resultthereof, said acute angle so controls the pivotal movement of saidnozzle that the discharge of said jet therefrom is in a substantiallyhorizontal direction that does not tend to cause said bow of saidvehicle to nose into the water supporting said vehicle; and

2. A marine vehicle as defined in claim I in which said rearward portionof said tubular member is of a socket-like configuration

1. In a marine vehicle having a bow and stern and a rearwardly extendingtubular member through which a power driven propeller discharges a jetof water thAt is used to propel and steer said vehicle, said tubularmember having a rearward portion that defines a segment of a firstspherical surface, the improvement for maintaining said jet in asubstantially horizontal direction when said vehicle is travelingforwardly as well as when negotiating a turn to prevent said jet raisingsaid stern of said vehicle to cause said bow thereof to nose into thewater, said improvement comprising: a. a tubular nozzle that includes aforward portion that defines a segment of a second spherical surfacethat slidably engages said first spherical surface, with the interior ofsaid tubular member and nozzle cooperating to define a continuousboundary surface through which said jet discharges rearwardly with aminimum of resistance; b. two spaced first and second pins rigidlysecured to said forward portion and journalled in said rearward portionof said tubular member, said pins coaxially aligned on a first axis thatintersects a second axis that extends longitudinally through saidtubular member when said tubular member and tubular nozzle arelongitudinally aligned as occurs when said vehicle is being drivenforwardly in a straight line by said jet, said first and second axissustaining an upwardly and rearwardly extending acute angle therebetweenthat is so selected that as said nozzle is pivoted to turn said vehicleas the latter is driven forwardly by said jet and said first axis istilted relative to the vertical as a result thereof, said acute angle socontrols the pivotal movement of said nozzle that the discharge of saidjet therefrom is in a substantially horizontal direction that does nottend to cause said bow of said vehicle to nose into the water supportingsaid vehicle; and c. means for pivoting one of said pins and said nozzlesecured thereto to guide said boat by said rearwardly discharging jet ofwater.
 2. A marine vehicle as defined in claim 1 in which said rearwardportion of said tubular member is of a socket-like configuration.